As February ends, I’m reflecting on the significance of Black History Month. Originally conceptualized by Carter G. Woodson, this month serves as a time for celebration and deep reflection on the legacy, accomplishments, and struggles of African Americans.
Black History Month is crucial for our sector because it not only celebrates African American contributions as leaders and innovators, but also prompts us to confront moral questions about equity and justice.
Dr. Akilah Watkins
In many ways, the nonprofit sector embodies courage: while there are many things we haven’t always gotten right, we have also made significant strides. Being able to hold space for honest, transparent conversations around race is one of the things our sector has begun to get right.
African Americans continue to make history, with increasing Black leadership in our sector. The representation of people of color on nonprofit boards has increased since 2002, according to data from IS member Urban Institute Center on Nonprofits and Philanthropy.
At the same time, political polarization is affecting trust in our sector — including the public’s perception of nonprofits that defend civil rights. Despite readiness and desire for leadership roles, Black leaders often struggle to attract the same level of philanthropic funding as their white counterparts, according to research from IS member The Bridgespan Group and others.
I don’t have to tell you how challenging leadership can be, particularly for leaders of color. Across my 2023-2024 Listening Tour, I heard repeated concerns about the glass cliffs that leaders of color face, without receiving the same levels of trust and support.
On a national level, we’re also seeing legal attacks on our sector’s efforts to support diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), following the Supreme Court’s decision on affirmative action last year. In August, the American Alliance for Equal Rights — an organization known for its anti-diversity lawsuits — filed a suit against the Fearless Fund, which makes grants to Black women entrepreneurs.
Together with the Council on Foundations, an IS member, we filed a joint amicus brief in December to support the Fearless Fund. We argue that charitable giving — including giving to counteract the effects of racial discrimination — is protected by the First Amendment. More than 200 sector organizations have signed on in support.
So, what can the nonprofit and philanthropic sector do to continue to advance racial justice, during Black History Month and beyond?
We need more spaces where sector leaders of color can find support and build strategic alliances. For several years, I have been a member of The CEO Circle of Color, a national group of CEOs of community development and racial justice organizations. We formed to address the staggering underrepresentation of leadership of color and to actualize systemic change that results in increased executive level representation. I’m now bringing this work to Independent Sector, where we’re also developing new programming for power building and for leadership development.
To advance policies that center racial equity, the nonprofit and philanthropic sector must also embrace advocacy. Yet, as our recent research makes clear, only 31 percent of nonprofits have advocated or lobbied over the last five years — less than half the percentage of two decades ago.
We know that a nonprofit’s mission has the biggest influence on whether it advocates, but nonprofits committed to equity are not advocating. While the majority of nonprofits report having a diversity, equity, and inclusion statement, only 36% engage in policy activities aimed at creating more equitable systems.
When nonprofits sit on the sidelines of policy debates, we are leaving our power on the table to improve lives, strengthen society, and achieve our missions. To build a more racially just nation, sector leaders need to get nonprofits off the sidelines and onto the playing field.
As we conclude Black History Month, let’s not only celebrate but also commit to tangible actions to make DEI commitments explicit, support courageous leadership, amplify Black voices, and advocate for equitable systems. Let’s ensure that the nonprofit sector remains at the forefront of building a healthier and more racially just nation for us all.
Dr. Akilah Watkins is president and CEO of Independent Sector.
